13 comments:

One of the best ... no, THE best politico band to come out of the UK, but condemned to produce ever less interesting music after their second album, Solid Gold. However, the good news is that the band reformed with the original line-up in 2005 to produce "Return the Gift" - an excellent re-recording of their classic songs. The re-recording was triggered by the fact that the Go4 came out of their EMI deal in massive debt, their classic albums not having earned enough to pay off EMI's advances. The re-recording meant that unlike revenue from Entertainment, the proceeds would go straight to the band. For that reason, I will not post the "Return The Gift" CD itself - go get it, help the band and enjoy - it's really worth it.

However, I can't leave you with nothing and, thanks to a generous uploader whose name and link I've unfortunately forgotten, we can enjoy a live-in-the-studio Gang of Four session from their American tour to promote the Return the Gift CD. The reformation wouldn't last, but at least some live sessions like this one and the CD remain. Enjoy, Dave Sez.

01.=Intro= 02.At Home He's a Tourist 03.Damaged Goods 04.I Found That Essence Rare 05.Not Great Men 06.I Parade Myself 07.=Interview= 08.Paralyzed 09.Return The Gift 10.To Hell With Poverty 11.We Live As We Dream, Alone 12.What We All Want

An essential item for every Go4 fan is the Return the Gift re-recording of Entertainment mentioned above. But very few fans were able to obtain the rarest of the reformed Go4's recordings - the 24th September 2005 gig at the Barbican. The NME announced the gig thus:

"THE LEMONHEADS and GANG OF FOUR are to join the likes of THE STOOGES and BELLE AND SEBASTIAN by taking part in a unique season of gigs this autumn. Presented in association with NME’s sister magazine Uncut, ‘Don’t Look Back’ will see a selection of veteran artists revisit a classic work, played on the night in its entirety... Gang Of Four run through ’Entertainment’ at the Barbican on September 24". They did indeed play every track of the album except Contract and the gig was released as a strictly limited and now out-of-print official CD.

Anyway, in the absence of any reaction, well, I bloody well like'em so here's the latest treasure (but is this pearls before swine?):

A live soundboard A+@320 40 min 1979 gig in the UK with two never again recorded compositions (or covers?), (Waiting For My) Elevator" and "“This is I’m Not Stewing Steak”/Hold up my Weekend"; Hold up my Weekend would figure on a list of 1978 demos, probably for Fast Records:

Dave- that's what its like) After a year of doing this I'm quite used to spending time ripping and uploading music (which can be quite time consuming)and seeing it clock up more than a two or even three hundred downloads without receiving one word of thanks.I'm sure that your links are appreciated even if people are for whatever reason, relutant to express that appreciation.

Here's more rare Gang of Four, the only known footage - half-an-hour of it - of the first line-up of Go4, filmed on New Year's Eve 1980 at Hurrah's NYC (Go4 mates the Mekons opened and joined Go4 for the encore).

Thanks for this.....I came across your 'thought provoking' blog yesterday....I d/loaded from your Crass postings....oops...don't think I left a thank you....GO4 were/are pretty special....I saw them play live in Edinburgh....on the same bill with Delta 5 and Pere Ubu.....one thought one would see such gigs every day for ever....alas....the record industry don't dwell on 'limited sales' potential...Delta 5 were pretty 'perky' and in one's face....David Thomas came on stage clanging away with a claw hammer on an anvil....GO4 were 'awesome', John Gill and Andy Gill sent shivers down one's spine....John with his spitting venom and Andy with his steely eyes and staggering guitar style....

I let all my angry singles and albums slip away, leaving luggage as I moved forward through this mortal coil.....Today I have a set of GO4 as a ha ha 'Hits' collection....I've d/loaded this cos nostalgia can reconnect one to distant energies.....

hello mate-I started this little GangOfFour download-athon with the comments on KnowYourConjourer and finished it here (unless there's even more to come!)and I just want to say thanks SO MUCH for your effort and enthusiasm.You've made my day,which happens to be my (& John Lennon's)birthday..well,yesterday now! I'm gonna be up all night listening to this stuff- thanks again yr a diamond :)